Fabaceae is the plant family containing legumes such as peas, beans, peanuts, and lentils.
Fabaceae is also called Leguminosae, and its members are commonly known as legumes. The family includes food crops, timber trees, ornamental plants, and many wild species. Its characteristic fruit is a legume, usually a pod that opens along two seams, although some members have specialized fruits.
Many legumes form symbiotic relationships with nitrogen-fixing bacteria housed in root nodules. These bacteria convert atmospheric nitrogen into compounds the plant can use, while the plant supplies them with carbohydrates. This relationship helps explain why legumes are valuable in crop rotations and soils. Not every plant with a pod belongs to Fabaceae, and peanuts are legumes botanically even though they are often grouped with nuts in everyday speech.